O o o g o g



(No Model.)

T. W. FOWLER.

FARE BOX.

Patented Sept. 25, 1883.

n. PLTERS. Pnutoldimgmpllcr. wmmmm nu rrnn STATES T. WALTER FOWLER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO-DANIEL WV. GLASSIE, OF SAME PLACE.

FARE-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 285,742, dated September 25, 1883. Application filed May 28, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, T. 'WALTER FOWLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVashington city, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FareReceiving Boxes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of fare-boxes that are secured in position and receive fares from passengers without the intervention of attendants 5 and it consists in introducing into and arranging within the fare-box one or more foraminous directing plates at angles counter to each other, so that pilfering therefrom is wholly prevented.

It also consists in forming a series of fingers on the lower end of and integral with the foraminous directing-plates by continuing the line of perforations or slots in the lower edge of the plates out into incisions.

It further consists in constructing the top of the box or mouth-piece and first directing-plate integral, if it bedesired.

Figure l is avertical section of a fare-box, showing two foraminous directing-plates secured on the inner side and a dump-trap. Fi 2 is aview of a lattice directing-plate terminating in fingers forming part of the plate. Fig. 3is another modification of a directing plate, showing elongated foramina, and terminating in fingers in the end of the plate, formed by the perforations therein. Fig. 4 is a perspective of a perforated plate formed integral with the mouth-piece of the box. Fig. 5 is another modification of the directing-plate, showing circular foramina.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is a fare-box, and a are glass windows for inspecting the interior. I)- is the mouth-piece, and b the throat through which the fare is introduced into the box. at is a dump-trap mounted on an axle, 0, at the bottom of the inspection-chamber. d is a rod for dumpingthe trap d. O is an upper and D a lower foraminous directing-plate, and e are fingers on the end thereof. B is the money-safe, and f is the external entrance thereto.

The fare-box A may be of any material, as well as of any form of construction, and may or may not have inspeetionwindo'ws a, as may be desired by those using the box; so the moneysafe B and means of longitudinally reaching it may be of any form, design, or material desired. These are mere matters of detail,which are left wholly to the desire orwish of the user of the box, as my foraminated plates can be used in any form, size, shape, or character of fare or other box where pilfering is to be pre- 6o vented.

The directing-plates O D are metal plates, of suitable form and size, numerously perforated throughout their entire surface with any form of perforations; or they may be made of '65 coarse wire screen, or of platted rods or bars of metal secured together, or made in any other way or of any other material, whereby the perforations can be obtained in the most economical manner. These directing-plates may form an integral part of the top and sides; or the top or sides, or each, may be separate and secured in place by any approved plan known. The width of the plates 0 D should be equal to the width of the box in whichthey 5 are to be used, and may, when separate, be set into the sides of the box, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figs. 2, 3, and 4t; and thelength of the plates should be such that when transversely closing up the interior of the box the plate would stand at an angle of about from one-half of one to two degrees out of horizontal. This size is not arbitrary, but merely suggestive, so that when properly secured in place and drooping at a proper angle to discharge the fare falling upon them there will be space sufficient between the end of the plate,

or the end of the fingers c thereon, to permit the fare to pass on down to the next plate below. The lower line of perforations in the end 0 of the directingplates O D represents slots or incisions, rather than perforations, and there by forms a series of fixed fingers, e, on the lower edge of the plates, (see Figs. 2 and 3 for modifications of this idea,) and it is obvious that fingers so formed are superior to those inserted in other forms of directing-plates. One, two, or any desired number of these foraminous plates 0 D are by one end each on oppositesides thereof, alternately, one above an other from bottom IOO to top of the box, secured within the fare-box A, and the free end thereof depressed at any 9 sea 112 angle desired or that experience may suggest to better deliver the fares on'the plates below, leaving sufficient space between the lower free end and the side of the box for the passage of the fare. To be more definite, I beg to say: Immediately under the throat I) of the mouthpiece I), on the inner side of one of the walls or top of the fare-box, I secure by one end or cast integral therewith a foraminous directingplate, 0, and direct the free end thereof toward the opposite wall of the box, depressing the plate at any angle that may be desired-say anywhere from twenty to forty-five degrees, more or lessleaving sufiicient space at the lower end of the plate 0, or the fingers 6,

formed thereon, to permit the fare to freely.

pass between that and the side of the box A; and at a proper distance below the free or lower end of the directing-plate G, on the inner side of but opposite the wall to which the plate is secured, I secure one end of the directinglate D and direct its free end downward and toward'the opposite wall, depressed at an angle corresponding with the position of plate 0, leaving the space sufficient between the end of plate D and the wall of the box A to permit the fare to freely pass on down to the dump-trap.

The dump-trap d, which may be a plain metal plate, or be foraminated, or be constructed of platted bars or heavy wire screen, is mounted on an axle, c, to one side of the center, the longer end of which is loaded or weighted, and rests on a projecting shoulder, g, constructed within box A. This trap-dump d is the ordinary dump introduced into fareboxes between the inspection-chamber and the treasury-box, and may be operated by any approved arrangement. I show, however, only the elbow 0, rod (1, and ring 71., by which it can be operated.

Railway, tramway, omnibus, and other corporations and companies, as well as individuals who have been compelled to use fareboxes for the purposes herein described, have been and are daily sufferers from the depredations of the petty pilferers who are constantly robbing the fare-boxes with the aid of flexible wire and wax, or other material known to the craft, until they have become so expert that nothing seems capable of interrupting them. This by my invention I assay to do.

As will be seen, with my foraminous plates set at angles counter to each other, it will. be utterly impossible to geta wire with anything on it out of the inspection chamber, even though it were possible to get one down there, for any wire that would be flexible enough to make the necessary curves to pass the directing-plates would readily pass through the perforations therein, and even if it could be directed onto a piece of money or other fare it would be wholly stripped before it could be withdrawn.

Having now fully described my invention, what I esteem as novel, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a fare-receiving box, one or more internally-secured foraminous directing-plates, arranged as indicated, to prevent pilfering, substantially as described.

2. A fare-receiving box provided with foraminous directing -plates, substantially as shown and described.

3. Foraininous directing-plates terminating in fingers formed on and extending from the lower end thereof, and otherwise constructed as shown, to prevent pilfering, in combination with a fare-receiving box, sub stantially as set forth. 4. In a'fare-receiving box, a foraininons upper directing-plate integral with the receiving mouth-piece and end of the box, substantially as indicated.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my sig nature in presence of two witnesses.

T. WALTER FOXVLER.

' WVitnesses:

H. B. APPL'EWHAITE, CHARLES I. NVEBs'rnR. 

